The Australia Bureau of Statistics has today released a range of regional statistics for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Queanbeyan in the publication ACT Regional Statistics 2003.The publication includes information on household income, labour market, population, building activity, road traffic accidents and schools in the ACT and Queanbeyan region.

Some interesting highlights include:

ACT

At June 2001, there were 39,333 Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS) pensions and benefits customers in the ACT. Of these 18% were considered labour market customers, 41% were receiving the age pension and 16% the disability support pension,

In all Statistical Subdivisions (SSD), the majority of labour market customers were receiving the Newstart allowance. North Canberra recorded the highest proportion, with 87% of labour market customers receiving Newstart.

While south Canberra had the highest proportion of residents aged 65 and over (15%), it had only 9% of all age pension recipients.

According to Australian Taxation Office data, there were 163,972 taxable incomes in the ACT in 1999–2000.

The mean taxable income for the ACT in 1999-2000 was $40,687. South Canberra had the highest mean taxable income ($52,010), followed by Woden Valley ($43,630). Belconnen had the lowest mean taxable income ($38,404).

Queanbeyan

At June 2001, there were 6,578 FaCS pensions and benefits customers in the Queanbeyan SSD. Of these 17% were considered labour market customers, 39% were receiving the age pension and 19% the disability support pension.

In Queanbeyan SSD there were 19,373 taxable incomes. Queanbeyan recorded a lower mean taxable income than any SSD in Canberra ($38,072).